Fool Away Their Souls
Christ offers heavenly treasures in exchange for earthly treasures, but many foolishly slip their opportunities and lose their eternal salvation.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the critical choice presented by Christ to the young man in the Gospel, who was offered eternal treasures in exchange for his earthly possessions. Despite the promise of heavenly rewards, the young man chose to prioritize his temporary wealth, ultimately missing out on salvation. Brooks warns that many people today similarly squander their time and opportunities for eternal life, choosing fleeting pleasures over lasting fulfillment. The sermon serves as a call to recognize the value of spiritual over material wealth and to seize the opportunities for salvation before they slip away.
Text
Christ made a very fair offer to the young man in the Gospel, "Go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven," Matthew 19:21. Here Christ offers . . . heavenly treasures for earthly treasures, unmixed treasures for mixed treasures, perfect treasures for imperfect treasures, satisfying treasures for unsatisfying treasures, lasting treasures for fading treasures; but the young man slips his opportunity, his season, and goes away sorrowful, and we never read more of him. Just so, there are many who trifle away their time, and fool away their souls and their eternal salvation.
Sermon Outline
- Christ's Fair Offer
- Heavenly Treasures for Earthly Treasures
- Unmixed Treasures for Mixed Treasures
- Perfect Treasures for Imperfect Treasures
Key Quotes
“Christ made a very fair offer to the young man in the Gospel, 'Go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven,' Matthew 19:21.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must seize our opportunities and not slip them away, lest we lose our eternal salvation.
- Christ's offer is a fair one, and we must be willing to let go of our earthly treasures to receive the heavenly ones.